Determinants of Health Services Utilization among the Elderly in Calabar Municipality, Cross River State, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Geriatric healthcare is increasingly becoming a component of the healthcare delivery system as the reality of healthcare for the elderly varies dramatically from one society to another. Objective: The general objective of this study was to identify the determinants of healthcare services utilization among the elderly in Calabar Municipality, Cross River State, Nigeria. Methods: A semi-structured questionnaire was used to generate data from 200 respondents using multi-stage sampling technique. Data generated were analyzed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS version 20.0) and results were presented in tables and charts. Chi-square was used to test for association between variables at 5% level of significance. Results: The result of this study showed that most respondents were aged 65-69years 74(37.0%) followed by those aged 70-74years 56(28.0%) and 75-79years 42(21.0%). More females 110(55%) than males 90(45%) participated in the study. More than half of the respondents 34(67%) reported to have visited the hospital in the last 12 months mainly for general body checkup 51(25.5%) and treatment 31(15.5%). Barriers to utilization of healthcare services identified in this study include; long waiting time 10(22.2%), drug prescribed not available 10(22.2%) and health workers not friendly 10(22.2%). Factors associated with health services utilisation among the elderly were gender, residential status, educational status, occupational status and income level (P<0.05). Conclusion: Proffering solutions to barriers to health services utilization highlighted in this study would promote optimal use of health services thereby improving the quality of life of the aged population.